Opus Project

Educating myself about the history of music, one band or artist or composer at a time. 550+ artists reviewed so far.

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 728 is RARE EARTH whose sounds reflected 1960s Detroit's hard rock and soul traditions. They were one of the first all-white acts in the Motown organization.

Fav album: One World
Fav song: I Just Want to Celebrate https://t.co/A66sInSPI7

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 727 is LES RALLIZES DĖNUDĖS, a Japanese psychedelic noise band from the 1960s-70s Distorted, feedback-rich guitars, a drone rhythm line, echo-laden vocals in Japanese (a rarity then).

Fav album: ’77 Live
Fav song: Flame of Ice https://t.co/kGIHVXYhLC

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 726 is @theblackcrowes. Sometimes you need a little comfort food for your musical soul. For those up us who grew up on classic rock, the Black Crowes provide exactly that.

Fav album: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Fav song: Remedy https://t.co/QzC1TMWaDL

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 725 is BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS. It’s hard to overstate the impact of “Rock Around the Clock.” It wasn’t the first “rock” song but brought the genre to the mainstream.

Fav song: Rock Around the Clock https://t.co/nsQAifXkmt

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 724 is SLIM HARPO. A guitar and harmonica player from Louisiana ("Swamp blues") who had an influence on both sides of the Atlantic. His voice was laid back and higher in pitch in contrast to contemporaries.

Fav song: Shake Your Hips https://t.co/xsoHPdB4ns

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 723 is RUFUS and @ChakaKhan. Rufus had mid-70s success with funk/soul recordings - not hard funk but rather a slicker, jazzier funk. Khan’s strong voice dominates anything she records.

Fav album: Rags to Rufus
Fav song: You Got the Love https://t.co/bz7Kbsj50g

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 722 is KMRU @joseph_kamaru, a Kenya-born, Germany-based ambient artist. He has received acclaim for his electronic ambient material. Texture and mood with personality.

Fav album: Dissolution Grip
Fav song: Well
https://t.co/n4wAJR9btE

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 721 is THE VENTURES, famous for practically inventing the rock instrumental and, not long after, pioneering the fuzz guitar sound. Lots of guitar instrumental covers of popular songs.

Fav album: Walk Don’t Run
Fav song: Another Smash! https://t.co/ALdzwQWFG4

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 720 is @meshuggah, an extreme metal band from Sweden known for a highly technical approach, full of complex polyrhythms and structures. No matter the label it appeals to me.

Fav album: Destroy Erase Improve
Fav song: Elastic https://t.co/HKBxr2UhKC

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 719 is MOSE ALLISON. Is his music jazzy blues or bluesy jazz? Also known for his often subtly ironic and clever songwriting. He influenced many rock and blues artists.

Fav album: I Love The Life I Live
Fav song: Parchman Farm https://t.co/3fwlJGwN3H

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 718 is L.A. WITCH, the answer to the question: what if Mazzy Star were a garage rock band? This is a contemporary all-female trio out of – you guessed it – Los Angeles.

Fav album: Play with Fire
Fav song: Fire Starter https://t.co/Ba1sw2H9Xw

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 717 is THE SEEKERS, a folk quartet from Australia that had a moment in the sun in the mid-1960s with hits in the UK and U.S. It’s mostly a straight-backed chair folk style.

Fav album: Come the Day
Fav song: Red Rubber Ball
https://t.co/0gcRTptLYs

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 716 is NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN, famous performer of qawwali – a form of Sufi devotional music from South Asia. Powerful voice and incredible stamina.

Fav album: Pukaar: The Echo
Fav song: Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum https://t.co/cPR4DdfLTU

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 715 is ROTARY CONNECTION, a late 60s multiracial psychedelic soul group, experimental and a bit odd, but there is something compelling in it.

Fav album: Rotary Connection
Fav song: I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun https://t.co/xkVUvtDwnA

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 714 is @BandaAL9. Brazilian brother duo specializing 60s-style pop-rock songs with obvious reverent mimicry of the Beatles.

Fav album: Love is the Law
Fav song: She Can Do It All https://t.co/NnxXPBrvc6

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 713 of the “opus project” is @Belzebong. This Polish outfit is pure stoner metal goodness. The low slow grind largely untainted by lyrics, effects or melody.

Fav album: Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves
Fav song: Witch Rider https://t.co/34TCR85WrN

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 712 of the “opus project” is the BAR-KAYS. Started as a house band in Stax Records & after tragedy reformed as a quality funk band in the mid-1970s -- a pleasant discovery.

Fav album: Coldblooded
Fav song: Humpin’ https://t.co/cvgx0dafl8

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 711 is PENTANGLE. Hard to categorize this late 60s-early 70s British group; folk-rock is the closest label I suppose, grounded in the excellent folk guitar of Bert Lansch and John Redbourn.

Fav album: Cruel Sister
Fav song: Jack Orion https://t.co/uuC9yXMVro

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 710 is GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS, reliable hits artist for Motown then Buddah in the late 60s and 70s. Gladys’ strong voice is always the centerpiece.

Fav album: Nitty Gritty
Fav song: Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone https://t.co/cVjStjp8Yy

[Opus Project @opusproject]

Episode 709 is ALI FARKA TOURÉ, guitarist from Mali described as “the African John Lee Hooker” for blend of Malian styles with African-American blues. Fantastic guitarist.

Fav album: Ali Farka Touré (1988)
Fav song: Bonde https://t.co/eW9oUG5irb